EXPERT VIEW - The Check Call Followed By A Big Bet
28 May 2006
I`ve just finished reading Andy Bloch`s tip of the week for Full Tilt Poker. In it Bloch argues against the following: checking the flop and smooth calling when someone else bets, and then leading out with a huge bet on the turn. I`ve seen this play hundreds of times in online tournaments, and made it a couple of times myself. Is it really as bad a play as Bloch suggests?
Bloch argues that the play is bad primarily because it sends a mixed message, or in his own words is not telling a coherent story about your hand strength. He also thinks it is a bad play because it doesn`t have much value - you`re going to scare away your opponent and win very litte, whereas if you check and call the turn you send the same message to good players ("I have a very powerful hand") plus you`ve earned more (if the same player bets out on the turn again). If you face a weak player you could even get another bet out of him on the river.
I disagree with his argument that it sends a mixed message. Often you find players checking very strong hands on the flop and then only calling. The reason for doing this is that you hope to catch your opponent off-guard by surprisingly leading out on the turn. This can be effective if the turn is a brick, or if it seems unlikely in any way to have improved your hand. Take the following example:
I hold JJ in the big blind. The cutoff makes it 200 to go and I am already in for 50. I just call. The flop comes 2-3-J. I check and he bets 400. I just call. The turn is an 8. I now lead out and bet 600. The cutoff has an overpair to the board. I guarantee you that 95% of all online poker players will raise me here, and most of them will put me all-in. Very few players lay down QQ,KK, or AA facing this board.
I agree with Bloch that there are a lot of instances where making this play will result in an immediate fold and no value. But if your opponent holds cards like AK or AQ and the board shows rags you`re better off chasing him off his hand on the turn. That`s just my opinion, but I have to say that it isn`t the worst betting strategy in the world by a long way - if the circumstances are perfect!
